Health Savings Accounts, High-Deductible Plans Jump 18%

A recent Aetna study of its HealthFund plans supports that contention. HealthFund members spent 7% less overall on healthcare costs but received more preventive care from their primary care physicians and preventive screenings than members with traditional PPOs.

AHIP has conducted the census survey since 2004 when HSAs first appeared. The first census recorded only one million HSAs. Membership has steadily increased and has tripled since 2007.

Among the census findings:

An estimated 51% of all HSA/HDHP enrollees in the individual market (including dependents covered under family plans) are less than 40 years old.

Lives covered by an HSA/HDHP are evenly split between males and females.

PPOs are the most popular HSA/HDHP product

States with the highest portion of HSA enrollees are Vermont (20%), Minnesota (14%), and Montana (12%).

States with the lowest proportion of HSA enrollees were Alabama (1.3%), West Virginia (1.8%), and New Mexico (2%).